Have you Switched to Windows 11 Yet?

We here at IT Support LA have been talking about the differences between Windows 10 and 11 for a while now. Because people have grown to really like 10, 11 had an initial slow adoption rate. But Windows 11 has steadily been gaining speed. As of August 2024, Windows 11 had over 31% of the Windows market share. That is bound to increase fast as Windows 10 retires in 2025.

Have you already upgraded to the new operating system or are you planning to make the leap soon? Whenever it happens, here are some great tips on optimizing your Windows 11 experience. Windows 11 offers several great features, but to gain the productivity boost you need to use them.

Here’s an examination of the most effective settings and tools that can transform your daily workflow. If you have good IT Services, whether an internal IT Support department or outsourced Managed IT Services provider, have them set up 11 for you.

1) Customize your Smart Menu

At first glance, the Start Menu might seem less important than other features, but it’s your gateway to all the applications and settings on your computer. It’s used all the time to open apps, search, and more. This makes it a huge potential productivity enhancer.

You can save time and clicks by customizing your Start Menu. Here are a few ideas:

Pin Apps you Frequently Use: Right-click on any app and select ‘Pin to Start.’ This keeps your most-used applications, like Outlook, just a click away.

Gather Important Apps into Folders: Simply drag and drop apps on top of each other to create folders and label them for easy identification.

Customize the Start Menu Layout: This is easily done: Simply go to Settings > Personalization > Start. Here, you can choose which folders appear on Start and adjust the layout to suit your needs.

2) Create Virtual Desktops

It’s easy to organize your workspace by creating virtual desktops. You can separate different tasks into distinct desktops. For example, one for work and one for personal. You can also create a new desktop by clicking on the Task View button on the taskbar or by pressing Win + Tab. Click on ‘New Desktop’ to create a new virtual space.

Handy Switching Between Desktops: Use Ctrl + Win + Left/Right Arrow to switch between desktops.

3) Utilize Snap Layouts and Snap Groups

These are powerful tools for multitasking. Snap Layouts and Snap Groups ‘snap’ windows into position for side-by-side work. When you start using them, you’ll notice a big reduction in time-consuming app-switching.

How to Use Snap Layouts: Just hover the cursor over the maximize button on any window to see available snap layouts. Choose a layout to snap the window into place.

How to Create Snap Groups: First, snap windows into a layout. Windows 11 will remember the group. Hover over the taskbar icons to see and restore the snap group.

4) Stay Focused with Focus Assist

Use Focus Assist to stay focused by minimizing distractions.

How to Enable Focus Assist: On the taskbar search, enter ‘Search Focus’ and click Focus Settings. Choose your options and click to start a session.

Setup Automatic Rules: Configure automatic rules to enable Focus Assist during specific times. For example, when duplicating your display or when playing a game.

5) Use Widgets

Want quick access to personalized content like news, weather, calendar, and more? Widgets will do that.

How to Access Widgets: Just click on the Widgets icon on the taskbar or press Win + W.

Create Custom Widgets: Add or remove widgets and adjust their size and position to suit your preferences.

6) Customize your Taskbar

If you organize your taskbar, you can remove distractions and significantly enhance your productivity. Who likes weeding through icons that they rarely or never use? Hide them and get them out of your way. This reduces distractions and helps you find what you need faster.

Pin your Frequently Used Apps to the Taskbar: Simply right-click on any app and select ‘Pin to taskbar’ for quick access.

Taskbar Setting Adjustment: Right-click on the taskbar and choose ‘Taskbar settings.’ Here, you can customize taskbar behaviors such as hiding it in desktop mode or showing badges on taskbar buttons.

7) Know your Keyboard Shortcuts

We all know the basic shortcuts for copy (Control+C) and paste (Comtrol+V) but learn all the shortcuts – they can save you a lot of time. Once you learn your favorites, using them will be like second nature. Here are some essential ones:

Win + E: Open File Explorer.

Win + I: Open Settings.

Win + D: Show or hide the desktop.

Win + L: Lock your PC.

Alt + Tab: Switch between open apps.

8) Optimize your Power and Battery Settings

For mobile device users, you can extend your device’s battery life by optimizing power and battery settings. It can also improve performance. Knowing these adjustments is super helpful if you’re without a power connection for a while.

How to Adjust the Power Mode: Go to Settings > System > Power & battery. Choose a power mode that balances performance and battery life.

Enable Battery Saver: Using Battery Saver extends battery life. Use it when your device is running low or you're away from power for an extended time.

9) Use ‘Storage Sense’

Storage Sense helps you manage disk space by automatically deleting unnecessary files.

How to Enable Storage Sense: Go to Settings > System > Storage. Turn on Storage Sense and configure it to run automatically.

Set Cleanup Schedules: You can set up schedules for several different tasks, like deleting temporary files, emptying the recycle bin, and removing unused files. This helps to avoid clutter.

10) Check Out your Accessibility Features

Look at these Windows 11 accessibility features that can enhance your productivity:

Magnifier: The Magnifier tool zooms in on parts of your screen. Press Win + Plus to activate it.

Narrator: Narrator will read text on your screen aloud. Go to Settings > Accessibility > Narrator.

High Contrast Mode: Improve visibility by enabling high contrast mode. Go to Settings > Accessibility > High contrast.